If the car seems to be sliding left and right when hitting bumps I know it can be either rear hicas worn or suspension.

 

How do I test which it is?

 

Do I just jack up back of car and see if wheel moves left to right for hicas?

 

ta

You need to feel for play and identify where its coming from. It can be outer joints or the inner ball joints with the arms on the HICAS rack. Also if the rear shocks are on their way out the long wheel travel over bumps can skip the car to one side.

Cant I do a bounce test for the shocks?

i.e. push as hard as I can on rear quarter and see if it bounces more than once?

 

Is there a definitive way of testing shocks or HICAS?

Cant I do a bounce test for the shocks?

 

You can. But also you have a UK car with 2 stage rear shocks. The diagnostic to turn them to the hard setting is handbrake on and ign on. Basically handbrake up a notch to bring the light on also turns the rears hard so bear that in mind if you try to bounce test. I found that it simply doesnt bounce on a UK zed it is just stiff and stiffer unless the shock is stuffed and then you feel a big difference one side to the other. On mine one was totally stuffed and wet. UK Tokico 2 stage stock shocks are expensive at over £100 each but you can get import single stage ones really cheap at about £35 each. Not sure about the matching to spring rates etc tho. Not hard to change once you strip out the rear trim

Ive been quoted at £160 for 2 rear replacements - fitted

 

Worth it?

What shocks are they?

 

Standard ones?

If they are UK ones I think that is a good price.

Not UK mate

Imports

I never use the handbrake solenoid switch anyway

and Ive been told the firmness of the imports are in between the UK with and without the handbrake solenoid actuated.

The UK suspention is said to actually become firmer as you accelerate.

 

Check out the prices of the shocks.

 

I think UK ones are £80 each and the Jap ones are £25 each, because of the UKs higher spec.

 

I could be wrong though.